“He’s such a good egg,” remarked an adoring fan as Nick Mulvey sent a collection box into the audience to raise money for Help Refugees during his Bristol performance on Tuesday night. “Please hand it to the soundman once you’re done, I trust you,” he said.

The singer-songwriter, who released his sophomore album Wake Up Now last month, is every bit as compassionate as he is talented. After explaining a brief bit of history about the refugee charity he supports heavily he launched into Myela, an incredibly thought-provoking song from the album in which he recounts real tales of survivors from the humanitarian disaster.

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It was a touching tribute to a cause he cares deeply about, and encapsulated the whole performance at the O2 Academy, where he shone from start to finish. Formerly a member of the Mercury Prize-nominated Portico Quartet, Mulvey mixed up old favourites from his distinguished back catalogue such as Fever To The Form with new material from Wake Up Now, all of which the crowd seemed well-acquainted with already despite its young age.

Mulvey tackles challenging subjects with his music

But a stripped back version of Cucurucu arguably stole the show, which saw the backing band exit the stage to allow Mulvey's inimitable voice and dexterous guitar playing to shine without distraction. Upon finishing the song, he quipped “it’s better without the band,” and no disrespect to the talented musicians, but it was hard to disagree, even if he was only joking.

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Like any good singer-songwriter, Mulvey doesn’t just cobble his songs together; instead, they are often profound pieces of music with considered meaning or inspiration behind them. Before playing Imogen, for example, he explained how it was written when he saw the first scan of his first-born baby with his wife – who joined him on stage as a backing singer – at the same time Storm Imogen ripped through the UK last year.

Mulvey was joined by a band of five, including his wife

With the crowd crying out for more after a rousing rendition Fever To The Form, Mulvey and co returned to the stage for an encore which included the delicate Infinite Trees, one of the new album’s softer efforts, wrapping all in attendance in a warm blanket before they went on their way.

By displaying both mightily fine musicianship as well as empathy and gratitude throughout in typical fashion, Mulvey only enhanced his reputation as one of the most talented – and sincere – singer-songwriters making music today.